Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-05-27
RAILROAD PROSPECTS.
WH6tt the Surveyors are Doing
on Cdnds Prairie.

The party of Union Pacific surveyors |
tinder command of chief engineer Van
Arsdel and assistant engineer Nutting, |
are now in the canyon of Cottonwood /
creek surveying down to the Clearwater.
This survey was commenced at point |
near the Alfred White ranch and con-
tinued down to Shebang creek and
themes to Cottonwood creek. The other |
party which arrived subsequently COM
ti1enced at the same point as the other
party, and have continued it west to
Rocky canyon. 1t is their instructions
to continue the survey down Rocky
canyon to Salmon river, and thence up
the Little Salmon to meet the party
running line down from the Weiser
country. The probabilities are that the
survey will be continued down the
Clearwater and connect with the North
ern Pacific ola Potlatch creek. The
engineers in charge of these parties
have positive instructions to examine
every possible route across the prairie
between the Salmon and Clearwater
rivers. A heavy grade is expected
down Rocky canyon, but as there is
plenty of room for winding no unsur-
fnouutable obstacle is offered to railroad
construction.
It is understood that the line of rail-
road to be built over the route now
being surveyed will be called the idaho
Northern" and it is designed as an i'm
portant feeder for the Oregon Short
Line and the Union Pacific systems. 1t
will do for Idaho territory what the
Utah Northern did for southeastern Ida
no, Wyoming, Utah and Montana, that
is, 1t will open up for settlement and
place within reach of the markets of
the world very large and fertile scope
of country.
The Idaho Northern however will run
through grand country all the way-a
country of infinitely greater variety of
resources than that traversed by the
Utah Northern. Commencing at Weissf
city the "Idaho Northern" will at once
enter the rich agricultural settlements
which extend along the Weiser river
for sixty miles. The richest lands in all
Idaho are to be found in the lower Wei
ser, Mann's creek, Middle valley, Salu-
bria, Indian, Council and Hornet val
legs. A road through that district will
tap the rich mineral districts of WASH
ington county, and the vast copper
mines of the Seven Devils district
access to which can easily be had by
way of the Hornet valley. Higher up
the road enters the Little Salmon mead
ows, and will be able to supply Long
valley and all the upper Payette coun-
try, and also a great portion Of the
middle and south fork of Salmon river
country. Then the road follows down
the Little Salmon. serving the northern
portion of the Seven Devils in its course
and finally. as it approaches Salmon
river, it brings within its jurisdiction all
of central Idaho.
On Carnas prairis 1t will have an i'm
mense local traffic. as we'll as the trade
of all the Bitter Root range to supply.
The Utah Northern is known in railroad
circles as the "Little Giant" because of
its immense earnings, and the country
through which it runs does not begin
to compare in natural wealth with tbs
region through which the Idaho North
ern will be built. We have the irmest
faith that the Idaho Northern will be
the first railroad ever built into
Camas prairie. Let us raise all the pro-
duce we can, so that we can have some
thing to sell to the armies of men who
will soon be employed in constructing it.